Of this part we learn that the dangers of this life be no more than God can and will put from us, or preserve us in them when they come unto us without danger: also that • ⟨image 69⟩troubles of this world be not perpetual nor damnable for ever, but that they be for a tym• only sent from God to exercise and prove our faith and patience: at the last we learn that the troubles being ended, we begin and shall continue for ever in endless pleasure and consolation, as Dauyd showeth at the end of his psalm. So doeth Christ make an end with his disciples when he hath committed them for the time of this life, too the tuition of the heavenly father, whiles he is bodily absent: he sayeth at length they shall be where he is himself in heaven for ever. For in this life, all be it the faithfuls of God have consolation in Gods promises, yet is their Joy very dark and obscure by reason of troubles both without and within, outwardly by persecution, inwardly by temptation. Therefore Christ desireth his father too lead and conduct his church in truth and ⟨image 69⟩verify whiles it is here in fight and persecution with the devil, until it come too a perfect and absolute consolation, where as no trouble may molest it. For then and not before (too what perfection so ever we come) shall we be satisfied,1 as Dauyd sayeth. The plentifulness of pleasure and joy is in the light and contemplation of thee O Lord. For then shall the mind of man fully be satisfied, when he being present, may presently behold the glorious majesty of God:2 for God hath then all joys present to him that is present with him, and then man knoweth God as he is known of God. Thieves joys in the end of troubles, should give the troubled man the more courage too bear troubles patiently, and be persuaded (as Saint Paul teacheth) that the troubles of this present life,3 be not worthy of the joys too come, which shall be revealed too us when Christ cometh ⟨image 70⟩too judge the quick and the •eadde, too whom with the father and the holy ghost be all •onoure and praise world• without end. Amen.
Of thys parte we learne that the daungers of this lyfe be no more thē God can and wyll put frome vs, or preserue vs in them when they come vnto us without daunger: also that • ⟨image 69⟩troubles of thys worlde be not perpetuall nor damnable for euer, but that they be for a tym• onely sente frome God to exercise and proue our fayeth and pacyence: at the last wee learne that the troubles beynge ended, we begynne and shall continue for euer in endles pleasure and consolation, as Dauyd shewethe at the ende of his psalme. So doeth Christe make an end with his dysciples whē hee hathe commytted them for the tyme of thys lyfe, too the tuy••on of the heau•nlye father, whyles hee is bodyelye absente: he sayeth at lengthe they shall bee where he is hymselfe in heauen for euer. For in this lyfe, all be it the faythfulles of God haue consolation in Gods promises, yet is their Ioye verye darke and obscure by reasonne of troubles both• wythoute and wythin, outewardelye by persecution, inwardelye by temptation. Therefore Christe desyrethe hys father too leade and conducte hys churche in truthe and ⟨image 69⟩verifye whyles it is heere in fyghte and p•rsecution wyth the deuyil, vntyll it come too a perfecte and absolute cons•lation, where as no trouble maye moleste it. For then and not before (too what perfection so euer we come) shall we be satisfyed,1 as Dauyd sayeth. The plentyefulnes of pleasure and ioye is in the lyghte and contemplation of thee O Lorde. For then shall the mynde of manne fullye be saty•fyed, when he beynge presente, maye presentelye behoulde the gloryouse maiestye of God:2 for God hathe then all ioyes presente to him that is presente with him, and then manne knoweth God as hee is knowen of God. Theese ioyes in the ende of troubes, shoulde geeue the troubled manne the more corage too beare troubles pacientelye, and be perswaded (as Sayncte Paule teacheth) that the troubles of thys presente lyfe,3 be not woorthye of the ioyes too come, whyche shall be reuealed too vs when Christe cometh
- 1psal. 1•
- 21. Cor. •
- 3Rom. •
